Bazaar of the Bizarre

If visitors went to Pia Bouman School of Dance this weekend expecting tutus and ballet slippers, they went to the wrong place. The dance studio converted itself into the third annual Bazaar of the Bizarre.

In retrospect, I realize I'm a bit of a bazaar expert - having been marched through endless church basements as a child by my bazaar-loving family. I figured for certain there would be tables of crocheted items, helmed by sweet, blue haired old ladies, and if I was lucky - a counter offering coffee, tea and homemade fudge. But once you drop the word "bizarre" in the title, I wondered if this would be more like a freaky side show where the crafts are made of human skin...or something.

Most thankfully, Bazaar of the Bizarre turned out to be a pretty cool craft, clothing and jewelery show (with no human skin), put on by a bunch of people at Plastik Wrap who really value the artists. It is normally held around Halloween, but this spring's show was the kick-off for the now bi-annual event.

Everybody sitting at the tables made what was on display, and were quite happy to chat about their art. I picked up a fridge magnet, $5 by Sick on Sin, and fell in love with the vintage Nancy Drew hard cover-turned journals, $15 by Dreaming Tree Paper

There was clothing by Bitchcraft, hand made shoes, as well as funky screen printed ties with socially conscious messages by Epidemic 613.

And in true bazaar fashion there were sock monkeys made by MonkeyBuns, "sock creatures with attitude," as well as a coffee and tea counter with homemade goodies.

Stay tuned for the next Bazaar of the Bizarre in the fall, around Halloween.